A Reuters investigation revealed that Meta generated approximately $18 billion in advertising revenue from China in 2024, with nearly $3 billion stemming from ads tied to scams, illegal gambling, and prohibited activity. Former executive Rob Leathern criticized the company's enforcement measures after internal documents identified China as the source of 25% of all banned ads globally. The report found that Meta disbanded its China-focused anti-scam team and reinstated 4,000 suspended agencies to unlock $240 million in revenue, effectively prioritizing growth over consumer safety.
Meta earns billions from Chinese ad scams
Paul Drecksler is the founder and editor of Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter, covering the most important stories in e-commerce.
Never miss important e-commerce news
Our weekly newsletter is read religiously by 20,000+ e-commerce professionals.